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CSJ Alleges Flawed Methodology in NBS Employment Report, Citing Discrepancies with Reality
CSJ Alleges Flawed Methodology in NBS Employment Report, Citing Discrepancies with Reality
By: Michael Mike
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has dismissed the new methodology employed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in determining the level of unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria, describing it as “an act deliberately antithetical to Nigeria’s lived reality.”
CSJ’s statement was in response to the NBS’s release of its latest Nigeria Labour Force Statistics (NLFS) Report, which showed that unemployment in Nigeria fell from 5.3% in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 4.1% in the first quarter of 2023.
CSJ rejected the NBS’s findings, arguing that they are not supported by the increasing unemployment in Nigeria since the last report in 2020 which reported 33.3% unemployment rate in Nigeria.
It said since 2020, Nigeria’s economic challenges have increased with galloping inflation, factory closures, rural dwellers who have been prevented by insecurity from planting and harvesting and a public sector with a moratorium on new recruitments.
The Lead Director of CSJ, Eze Onyekpere said “the whole basis of a job report is to help the government to determine whether its plans, policies and laws geared at reducing unemployment are achieving the desired milestones, adding that: “What is the point of a job report that tells the government that more Nigerians are employed when it is a clear and notorious fact that unemployment is increasing?”
“The NBS is counting people who are working for at least one hour in a week or who are self-employed in low-productivity activities as ‘employed,’” said Onyekpere. “This is not an accurate reflection of the reality of the Nigerian labor market.”
He decried that the report t: “Simply to satisfy a fad, it is a waste of tax payers money to produce a report that adds no value to the Nigerian people and their economy,” stressing that CSJ believes that these statistics do not in any way reflect the prevailing economic challenges experienced by Nigerians, especially in recent times.
Before the latest report, Nigeria’s last unemployment data was released in the fourth quarter of 2020, leaving a substantial gap in our understanding of the employment situation. CSJ had previously emphasized the urgency for the NBS to provide up-to-date employment data for the years 2021 and 2022.
The statement said CSJ recognizes that a robust job report serves as a crucial tool for governmental planning and policy evaluation. However, the reported unemployment rate of 4.1% in the NLFS raises serious concerns about the relevance and accuracy of the methodology and the relevance of the findings to the lived experiences of Nigerians.
“This reported rate is incongruent with the economic challenges faced by a significant percentage of the population. “We call on the NBS to reconsider its methodology and ensure that it accurately captures the full spectrum of employment challenges faced by Nigerians. It is essential that job reports reflect the realities and provide an honest assessment of the economic landscape. Only through accurate data can the government develop effective strategies that deliver on its promises and address the pressing issues facing our nation,” Onyekpere said.
CSJ also called on the government to ignore the report, take steps to create more decent jobs and to improve the livelihoods of Nigerians.
CSJ Alleges Flawed Methodology in NBS Employment Report, Citing Discrepancies with Reality
Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe state police command has arrested prime suspect Yunusa Isa, AKA Abba, 24 years for the gruesome killing of Lawan Adamu, 28 years of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu, Yobe state capital.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, MNIPR, disclosed this to newsmen in a crime update report. He said the command has condemned the gruesome killing of a young man, Lawan Adamu, at the outskirts of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu.
“On September 15, ‘A’ Division Police Headquarters Damaturu received a distress call reporting a corpse with deep cuts. Police arrived to find the victim with deep throat cuts and multiple stab wounds; a bloodstained knife was recovered at the scene.
The body was removed to General Hospital Damaturu, where it was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. The corpse has been deposited at the hospital morgue.
Deliberate efforts by the Division led to the arrest of the prime suspect, Yunusa Isa, AKA Abba, 24 years of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu.
Yobe State Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, has directed detectives to expand their investigation to unravel the circumstances behind the incident.
He further assures the public that the investigation will be swift and thorough, as justice will certainly be served accordingly.
Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
…Acknowledges Donations from Agric Ministry, NEMA, NNPC
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has flagged off the distribution of relief materials to victims of the devastating Maiduguri flooding taking refuge in about 36 camps across the state capital Maiduguri and environs.
Maiduguri and parts of Jere and Konduga local governments were left submerged in water as a result overflowing water from Alau Dam due to massive rainfall, leaving about 2 million people displaced and properties put at several billions of Naira destroyed.
The flag-off ceremony took place on Monday, at Bakasi camp along Damboa Road in Maiduguri.
The relief materials shared include a bag of 25kg of rice, a carton of pasta and N10,000 cash.
Speaking to journalists at the venue of the distribution, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum decried the fact that many people not affected by the flood are troupling to the IDP camps, thereby making it difficult for smooth distribution of the palliatives to the people who were actually affected.
He said: “We observed that it is no more sustainable to continue receiving people in the camps because many people that were not affected are troupling to the camps.”
In addition to distributing relief materials, the governor also announced plans to comprehensively assess the affected areas, which will inform future interventions.
He stated: “So we decided to mobilise the resources and ensure that each affected victim had the relief items.
“We have also concluded arrangements that we shall do the assessment at the communities to verify the actual number of those that were affected.”
Also speaking, the senator representing Borno Central, Kaka Shehu Lawan, commended the governor for his leadership.
He said: “Let me commend the governor for providing leadership since the flooding started; he was out with his entire team trying to carry out search and rescue and assisting his people. I also joined His Excellency in commending our donors and urging others to complement the government in assisting victims.”
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, highlighted her agency’s interventions for victims of the flood disaster.
She said since the flooding started the agency has been providing shelters and mobile water purifiers to provide clean drinking water to those affected.
Meanwhile, Zulum has acknowledged the receipt of a food donation from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to support the victims of the recent flood disaster.
The occasion was attended by the Senator representing Borno North, Barrister Mohammed Tahir Monguno, members of the House of Representatives, and Borno State Executive Council.
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother
By: Our Reporter
Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, has condoled with Sen. Musa Mustapha, over the death of his senior brother, Alh. Tijjani Mustapha.
Gov. Buni who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Baba Malam Wali Mni, described the passage of late Tijjani as a very sad loss.
He said the death of Alh. Tijjani is a huge loss not only to the family but his community and the state.
Gov. Buni prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased “May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Al Jannatu Firdaus.
“May He grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss” Governor Buni further prayed.
The SSG was accompanied by the the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alh. Abdullahi Yusuf Gashua, Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Ustaz Babagana Malam Kyari, Permanent Secretary Protocol Alh. Kashim Kalli, the PPS Alh. Liman Ibrahim and DG Press Malam Mamman Mohammed.
Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother
Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe
Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Transformation of Service Delivery to Nigerians
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
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